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Modal verbs
image, Student Name: Edgar Sanum - Coggle Diagram
Modal verbs
A modal verb is a type of helping (auxiliary) verb that is used with another verb to express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, or likelihood
We have to use them in conjunction with another (main) verb. They are thus sometimes also called 'modal auxiliaries'.
What do they do?
We use modal verbs to make an assessment, judgement or interpretation Of what we are speaking or writing about, or to express our attitude to this.
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What do they look like?
For teaching purposes, a number of verbs and expressions are grouped together as modal verbs because they have a broadly similar meaning or function.
Speaking and writing
Avoidance
Many learners find other ways of expressing what they want to say, even when they understand the meaning of modal verbs and can use them appropriately and accurately in controlled exercises.
Need and dare
We can use both need and dare as modal verbs; we generally use need as a modal verb when we are in a position of authority and able to give permission or remove obligation. We tend to use it in negative statements.
Ought is similar to the pure modal verbs, except that we use the full infinitive (i.e. with to) after it rather than the bare infinitive.
Had better
Had better is similar to pure modal verbs except that it consists of two words, and we form the negative in a different way.
Have (got) to is modal in meaning, but not in form.
We use have to express necessity or obligation.
Be able to
Be able to is modal in meaning, but not in form. We use be able to express ability.
Pule modal verbs have no tense forms, and we generally use them to refer only to the present or the future.
Ought to and should
The meaning of these two modal verbs is the same. Ought to is more common in British than American English, and more common in speaking than in writing.
Must and have to
Course materials often teach that have to expresses 'external' obligation (imposed by regulations, conventions or by somebody else's will) whereas must expresses 'internal' obligation (imposed by the speaker).
Could and might
There is little difference between could and might. Don't eat that. It could/might be poisonous
Can't and mustn't
In most varieties of English, the opposite of must to express logical deduction is cannot.
Future arrangements and temporariness
Reported speech
We generally use could, might, ought to, should and would in reported speech just as we do in direct speech.
Will/ and would
We use would to express the 'future in the past. We use both will and would to express our disapprovaI of someone's stubborn insistence, in these cases will and would are stressed.
May and might
We can use May and might after whatever, whoever, wherever; etc.
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